Thoughts on [3ACV13] Bendin' in the Wind

[on:]

I know we had a thread for this episode once, but it got lost in the server downgoing time ...

So, discuss once you saw the rerun and also rate it on the main page 

[Reply #1 on:]

can't wait for the re-run so just watched it again on video 
Thought it was a quite good episode even though I know alot of you aren't keen on it.
It's known that Matt had to do some gentle persuading to get Beck to appear and I for one am glad he managed to get him as he was a good guest to have. The side plot of the rest of the crew travelling on the road was a bit weak but hey, it was no Fear of Bot Planet 
One thing I look forward to on Futurama is the music, even if it's just the mid scene music. So it was good to have so much music in this episode.
My Broken Friend had me tapping my feet along to it and Beck is a musical genius anyway so it was good to hear his music.
The end chase was very fun too.
Favourite joke:
"Like when I wrote Devil's Haircut I was feeling really...wait, what's that song about?" HEHE

[Reply #2 on:]

You're right it was no Fear of Bot Planet, Fear of a Bot Planet was far better.
I liked the My Broken Friend song but cum on, this episode was one of the worst, slightly better than Cryogenic woman and about level with Lobstertainment.
I think they really milked Bender character dry this season, we need more Zapp, professor, Amy, Morbo etc

[Reply #3 on:]

This episode sucked the first time and it'll suck this time too.  Wow i'm in a good mood today. 

this is like the 'nsync episode of simpsons, except with beck.  But beck is used in just as annoying a way as any celeb guest star ever was.  A new low for futurama! hurray for crap!

[Reply #4 on:]

I love the ep, I like the story plot, I think Beck was great. and I love the song "My Broken Friend".

Bender was so cute singing on stage with Beck 

[Reply #5 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
This episode sucked the first time and it'll suck this time too.  Wow i'm in a good mood today.   

this is like the 'nsync episode of simpsons, except with beck.  But beck is used in just as annoying a way as any celeb guest star ever was.  A new low for futurama! hurray for crap!

Nah, there's a difference between the two... Beck deserves to live.

[Reply #6 on:]

Poor episode.  Very mediocre at best.  Made very little sense.

Pros:
The Olestra chips
Any of Farmsworth's lines, most involving the word "dummy."
"It's toe-tappingly tragic!"
"You're lucky to have Zoidberg as a friend!  But cross me and I'll turn on you like that!"  ::Horrible warbling noise::
"I wrote Devil' Haircut when I was feeling . . . what was that song about again?"
The map of the US, circa 3000
"I've been making fine jewelry for years, apparently."
"That song doesn't usually last 3 hours, but we were in this thing, and I forgot how it ended."
The I Love Men magnet

Cons:
Bender singing in the beginning
The sappy pep talk from Fry to Bender
The can opener
Patchcord Adams
"The hydraulics are shot" - like worse things have never happened to Bender
A guest celebrity being an integral part of the episode
Malfuctioning Eddie having a screen time of less than a second
Bender's miraculous recovery

[Reply #7 on:]

I don't know why people hate this episode. When I heard it was to be the one on tonight, I just about cried in happiness. It's the ONE episode this season I regret not getting a tape of.

[Reply #8 on:]

It's a good episode... but the quality is normal in Futurama, so this is one of the worst episodes of the 3rd season. It's funny, like anyone...

I don't like celebrities appear often 

[Reply #9 on:]

i just wanted to point out that this is possibly the suckiest night of Fox ever...

Bending in the wind, AND the 'nsync Simpsons?  pukeatronic!

[Reply #10 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
i just wanted to point out that this is possibly the suckiest night of Fox ever...

Bending in the wind, AND the 'nsync Simpsons?  pukeatronic!

Can't compare the two. BITW sucks in comparison to the rest of Futurama. NKOTB sucks compared to everything.

(Though I must admit, Ralph Wiggum singing in that deep bass voice cracked me up.)

[Reply #11 on:]

I used to not like this episode, but after I saw it last night, for some reason it was better than I previously thought.  A mood swing I guess.

[Reply #12 on:]

I liked this episode alright, but it's definitely not a classic. It sort of reminded me of the Homerpalooza episode of the Simpsons -- luckily I like both Beck and the Smashing Pumpkins (their earlier stuff, anyway), so I found both episodes more entertaining than I probably otherwise would. My favorite line? It would have to be:

"You can have it if you can dump the corpses out."
"Yeah, yeah, I've bought used cars before..."

By the way, hi! I'm new here, although a long-time pathetically obsessed Futurama fan.

[Reply #13 on:]

first: hey lilyrose

second: didn't really like the episode for reasons i stated half a year ago 
i don't know who beck is .. so i guess i missed some in jokes. and pretty much, this episode could have totally happened in the simpsons. there was no need for a future setting whatsoever.
i rated it 1 star (bad) at the voting thingy.

[Reply #14 on:]

Over all its not very great, but there are a few good story points. I didn't know who Beck was either until i saw it... but I liked Zoidberg's jewels, the song, and the various spots on the map if you can get a shot of it:
Nukevada, Id:aho, and the AL which said Human Farm

[Reply #15 on:]

The US map was the highlight of the episode. The rest was mostly sucky. I won't go into detail, because it's been a while since I've seen the episode and I don't feel like watching it again. But the story was lazy, 90% jokes were weak, and even the voices were kind of annoying. I voted it a one...I couldn't bring myself to give Futurama a rating of "Horrible".

[Reply #16 on:]

This is why "The Simpsons" is getting worse and worse. When you include a guest star as an intergral part of the episode,(I.E. LOOK!It's Beck!, Or LOOK!It's Mark McGwire!) it effects the show. The last couple of seasons of OFF went extremely downhill with reckless sightings of all manner of vapid celebrites. I, personally, have nothing against Beck, but if we have to deal with more and more slack jawed celebrities, I might have to give up on Futurama like I did with OFF.

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by Rachel_D:
I used to not like this episode, but after I saw it last night, for some reason it was better than I previously thought.  A mood swing I guess.

aha! yeah i have the needing to be in the right mood for futurama thing - i also cant watch more than 2 in a row...

best thing from the episode were cylon and garfunkel - BRILLIANT and it was worth watching just for those few seconds   

i think that bender also sings a song walking along the street at the beginning which is amusing

"bender is great dum dum dea der da dum,
bender is great bum dum de da der dum,
de der der dum.......and bender is great...." etc - dont know the words but i can remember the tune just not the name......

(god i'm sad - but thats why i'm here right!?!?!
  )

[Reply #18 on:]

Sorry to dig this corpse out of the ground but I've just seen this episode for the first time ever today. It was the only episode that I'd previously missed on several occasions.

Overall it was poor, it was an ok episode but by Futurama standards it sunk to a new type of low. I don't really know who Beck is but I didn't like the way the whole episode revolved around kissing his ass as a celebrity appearance. As someone has already stated, this episode could just have easily happened without a futuristic setting.

Somehow this episode had a different atmosphere to what I'm used to, it wasn't too wacky or stupid which was a plus but it didn't seem normal either. Beck's music was quite interesting, I quite liked it but would there realistically be a whole 60s type movement in the year 3001?

I preferred this episode to "Thats Lobstertainment" which is in my opinion the worst. Hank Azaria as Harold Zoid goes down in history as the worst guest star on Futurama. It wasn't as good as "I Dated A Robot", which also featured heavily in the guest star department. I felt Lucy Liu was one of the better guest stars because she played her head and the Lucy Liubot and the plot was much more relevant to the future.

I wouldn't say that "Bendin' in the Wind" is dreadful; it's still reasonable overall and has some good moments. It was cool when Bender had the little arms and chanted, "Go Bender, go Bender" and I like the action sequence near the end with the VW Camper with Beck chasing it. The Simpsons has had some much worse episodes but unfortunately this reminded me of The Simpsons decline in quality.

[Reply #19 on:]

Since this thread popped up again, let me throw in my 0.02$.

When I read through the "Worst Episode"-thread, some episodes are repeated: Bendin', Dated a robot, Lobstertainment.

"Bendin' In The Wind" certainly isn't in the same league as Fryish or Homeplanet, but it still has a good lead on Lobstertainment and Dated A Robot. I'd rate it among average (which when compared to most other tv series will equate "Outstanding" ).

Although Bender's desire to be a folksinger is well established, it just wasn't as interesting as I hoped. Decent, but not much in the joke department. His quest to help  broken robots was a noble and selfless cause, and therefor very un-Bender. We know Bender wouldn't give a damn about those robots under normal circumstances, maybe it's Beck's influence. The "My Broken Friend" song wasn't that great either.

The hippie sidestory with Zoidy, Leela, Amy and Fry also ran against character (Leela is way to devoted to her job, to run of on a whim, Amy has her studies etc.), but at least it provided some good laughs. The part in the laundry-mat was great, particularly Zoidy's lines. The new name for the states was hillarious, and it was nice to see them go allout on the moneyless hippie thing (scrounging up food from trashcans etc.). Pretty funny, and didn't Leela just look the cutest in those hippieclothes? 

Agreed Beck was kinda superfluous, as they could just as easily have used a made up folksinger. But Beck's music was actually one of the saving graces of this episode (apart from the hippie sidestory). I've never heard about Beck before, but his music sounded pretty interesting, and after hearing some more of him I quite like it. Good choice by the people at Futurama, if they absolutely, positively had to go with a real singer.

The chase scene at the end was the highlight, very funny, and very well animated. Golden Gate Bridge being a hoverbridge was a nice twist (what do you need a bridge for, if it's only for hovercars), and Zoidy's reaction was superb (Not if you've led a life with no regrets :.freaks out::  ).

Okay, some sort things:

I loved the part with "Cylon and Garfunkel", I almost broke a rib from laughing, when Cylon started to sing.

I like Sal. Considering what a lazy guy he is, he's had an astounding amount of jobs.

H.G. Blob's redneck relative was a nice idea.

I loved Leela's reaction to Bender being launched into orbit. "Bummer." Indeed. 

Nice jokes when Bender lands again. "Somebody fat get in my waaaaaaay!", and then he lands on the scrawny women. And Garfunkels reaction to Bender "Over my dead career". 

Okay, summing up. So-so mainstory, good sidestory, great music, great chase scene. Some very funny jokes, but not as many as usual. I'll call it a 7/10 (one of those points is for Beck's music).

Some wonderments:

What sort of small change do they use in the future if water can ruin them?

What sort of paper do they use for moneybills? The last time I washed some of my money, all it took was a few hours of drying and they where (almost) as good as new.

[Reply #20 on:]

Nomatter how many times a watch this ep i just dont like it, i dont hate it but theres not enough good jokes in this ep to keep me from changing the channel. The only part i laughed out loud at was on the bit with "Cylon and Garfunkle" apart from that it wasn't really that good.

5/10

[Reply #21 on:]

I wonder if there is a direct relationship between Beck fans (and liking this ep) and people who can't stand a man who trancends genres as quickly as he invents them (and hating this ep).

I'd set up a poll... But I can't be arsed.

[edit]
An afterthought. I'm no Beck fan. But this ep is definitely in my top 5! Bang goes my theory.
[/edit]

[Reply #22 on:]

test

[Reply #23 on:]

Yes it basically boils down to two things: you either like Beck and thus you enjoyed the episode, understood all the jokes, loved the music, or you don't really know who Beck is/don't like him and consequently, you didn't get half of the episode and/or outright hated all the Beck stuff.

Still, I think that this episode is one of the best celebrity guest episodes in Futurama and presents a very good example how these celebrity guest episode should be made.

[Reply #24 on:]

And it was a interesting journey.

[Reply #25 on:]

I am the passenger
And I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backside
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight
I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city's a rip in the sky
And everything looks good tonight

[Reply #26 on:]

Hmm, I didn't know Beck beforehand, but did enjoy his music a good deal. I knew enough about folksingers, to get most of the jokes. And I actually think it was a decent episode. Not great, or top-10 material, but just above average.

[Reply #27 on:]

I liked the bit where Zoidberg was hocking up the marbles  And he said: OOOoooo you're touching them!
HAHA! 

[Reply #28 on:]

I really liked this episode, and I don't have a clue who Beck is. It would be worth watching just to see the scene in the laundry  The whole hippy sub-plot was great. The singing Cylon was very funny 

[Reply #29 on:]

*Bumped for the dvd release*

ok after having read other opinions on this, and finally seeing it I have to say I quite liked it....It's not the funniest Futurama but it's better than Lobstertainment....I know who Beck is but I agree when a celebrity is used as the plot point, it doesn't work and just brings the show down....

Funny things I enjoyed, the whole hippy part was great (although in the future you have to question it)
Bender's little arms were funny but I couldn't work out how he was moving them in the first place....?

Cylon and Garfunkel was hilarious, I love that song 2....

Stuff I didn't like too much....The whole plot with Bender being "un-repairable" or whatever and then suddenly recovering out of nowhere....? Why couldn't they just weld him back together....? 

The other broken robots just annoyed me for some reason....it's the Year 3000, just make them un-breakable....

I think that's it....good ep and I enjoyed it....they can't all be gems now can they....

[Reply #30 on:]

What is it with the "Lobstertainment" comparisons?!

Anyways, there were some good jokes in this episode but the plot was poor. Like Gleno pointed out, why did Bender get paralysed and then suddenly recover for no reason? This was another Bender episode that followed the linear pattern of 'Bender goes up in the world, then he goes back again', a la "Raging Bender", but the circumstances were even weaker than normal.

 As for Beck, he's not much of an actor and has little to do with folk singers, having a musical style that throws all manner of incompatable influences into the pot, so he was a rather poor guest to base the episode around. Yet, he did have some good lines ("Come on, move it! We gotta get to the concert and make the audience wait for it to start!" ) so I almost forgive him.

There was a fair amount of great gags in this episode too. Cylon and Garfunkel, "Take that you stupid corn!" and the device that speeds or slows the passage of time I all enjoyed. By the standards of Futurama, it was an average ep: the quality of humour was consistent but the weak plot kept it well away from classic status. 

[Reply #31 on:]

what is wrong with people, i know this is a very old bump, but a guest musician isn't automatically bad, he's put in because it revolves around benders desire to be a folk singer
it works better to have someone real than to make someone up

[Reply #32 on:]

I never said a guest musician was automatically bad though...unless you were talking about the others.

[Reply #33 on:]

 

Originally posted by Mouse On Venus:
I never said a guest musician was automatically bad though...unless you were talking about the others.

yeah i was talking about the others
so dont worry

[Reply #34 on:]

Just saw it. I just can't get over this ep.

Definatley one of my favorites, for sure my favorite Bender centered ep. I loved Beck in it, he's a good voice actor kinda. The whole hippy thing was so great, I thought the best line was, "Bummer" I love how Leela says that!    . Also, the "Ewww, you're touching them!" I sone of the BESTEST Zoidy lines evar!!1

Only about my top 5 are worth an A+, and this episode deserves it.   

[Reply #35 on:]

This episode didn't click for me, and was one of the worst episodes ever. Like "A Pharaoh to Remember," when Bender is emotional for almost the whole episode, his character is gone. Kinda like emotional Bart from "Bart the Mother." While I liked the song and a few jokes here and there, this is a pure D.

[Reply #36 on:]

<---Huge Beck Fan.

Slightly on the kiss-ass side
"I've always wanted to transend genres even as I re-invented them, just like you."

More than enough funny jokes, and good lines to compensate tho:
"Yeah, I've bought used cars before."(It helps to rmember they are in NYC)
"Use the power of mental thinking!"
"Oh crap, it's a miracle!"
"Not if you lived a life without regret."

Also, getting to see the sexy female leads, both in their skivvys was a definate plus.  It also helps a little if you like folk music.  Another plus for me, I just bought Woody Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Ballads"

This one reads B+ to me.

[Reply #37 on:]

 

Originally posted by Pitt Clemens:
<---Huge Beck Fan.

[Scruffy] Second [/Scruffy]

I love Beck, so I'm biased as hell, but I gotta agree with Hil on this one - in my top 5 definitely.  I guess it's just the love/hate episode like Jurassic Bark is (except there seem to be a few more on the 'hate' side).

The best bit for be was that beautiful 3D chase scene to the Golden Gate Bridge, and something I had never noticed before but pointed out in the DVD commentary:

Show spoiler

David X Cohen: Oh, this chase scene...
Rich Moore: Ode to Bullitt.
DXC: Do you remember the hubcap count here, Rich?
RM: Oh, man, it was...
DXC: I guess in the car chase in Bullitt five hubcaps fall off the car-
(everyone else laughs)
   -so in this chase scene also, five hubcaps fall off the car.

Took me a long time with the pause on the DVD remote to figure it out, but it makes me laugh every time now that I know when it happens.

Also
PROF: Where's the device that lets you speed or slow the passage of time?
FRY: Under the seat.

Such a nicely drawn bong!   

And two gems from Beck...
"Thank you! That song doesn't usually last three hours, but we got into a serious thing. And then I forgot how it ended."

"Woah dog, just cold chill.  You know, when I'm upset, I write a song about it.  Like when I wrote 'Devil's Haircut' I was feeling really....what's that song about?"

Just the troubled tone of voice for that last one cracks me up!

By the way, Sexx Laws (the song that doesn't usually last three hours) is one of my favourite songs under any circumstances...ever.

A+ from me.   

[Reply #38 on:]

Yeh i thought this ep was ok, but i refuse to admit that ne of the episodes are bad rly lol, was quite funny in places tho so yeh...oh and hi by the way im new :-) but i got series 1, 2 & 3 on DVD, n 4 soon!

[Reply #39 on:]

Welcome to Peel, Decent_Jam. See the sights, spend some money...please don't leave!